Surface-cleaning machine

ABSTRACT

Machine for cleaning mainly vertical surfaces comprising a body attached to the cable of the crane, brushes with an actuator attached to the body with the possibility of rotation, three or more wheels attached to the body with the possibility of rotation, and the attachment being such that their working components are in the same plane, and distinguished in that it comprises a box with an open wall on the side of the treated surface, with an elastic seal around the perimeter of the open part of the box and means to extract air from the box.

SECTOR OF THE ART

This invention relates to the field of automation, and more specificallyprocesses for the cleaning and maintenance of surfaces, particularly inbuildings.

STATE OF THE ART

Various technical devices which can be used to clean surfaces, mainlyvertical surfaces, are known (1-3). In the known solutions in the art adevice for the cleaning of surfaces such as a body with brushes or othercomponents for the spraying of liquids is described.

The defect in the known technical solutions (1-3) is that theirtechnological possibilities are inadequate. This is manifested by thefact that no uniform distance is maintained between the cleaningelements and the surface being treated when these devices are in use.This gives rise to defective and low quality cleaning, which bringsabout an abrasive wearing action on the surface in some areas andinsufficient cleaning in others. Furthermore, the failure to maintain auniform distance between the devices and the surface being treatedcauses significant oscillation in the said devices, causing damage tothe surface and increasing the risk of accidents.

1. Patent 08150379 A, Japan.

Harada Mamoru.

Device for washing and cleaning wall surface of building.

2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,132, USA

Roland Morin.

Machine for cleaning vertical or inclined surfaces.

3. Patent FR 2654652-A1, France.

Means for automatically cleaning smooth walls and in particular theglazing of buildings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Brief Description of the Invention

Machine for the cleaning of surfaces, mainly vertical surfaces, whichcomprises a body attached to the cable of a crane, brushes with anactuator attached within the body with the possibility of rotation,three or more wheels attached to the body with the possibility ofrotation, this attachment being such that the working components are inthe same plane, and which is characterized in that it contains a boxwith an open wall on the side of the surface treated, an elastic sealaround the perimeter of the open part of the box and means to extractair from the box.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The object of the invention is to improve the process of cleaning andmaintaining the surfaces requiring treatment as well as extracting airfrom the box while it is in operation. Together with the assistance ofthe elastic seal located around the open part of the box, this makes itpossible to exert a pressure on the surface being treated so that moreuniform contact is achieved between the brushes and the surface, thusimproving the quality of the cleaning process.

In order to achieve the object of the invention the machine for cleaningsurfaces comprises a body attached to the cable of a crane, brushes withone or more actuators attached on the body with the possibility ofrotation and three or more wheels attached to the body with thepossibility of rotation. The attachment is such that the workingcomponents are in the same plane and it is distinguished in that itcomprises a box with an open wall on the side of the treated surface, anelastic seal around the perimeter of the open part of the box and meansto extract air from the box.

The point at which the cable is attached to the body of the machine ischosen in such a way that when the wheels bear against the vertical flatsurface being treated the distance from the point of attachment of thecable to the treated surface is equal to the distance from the centre ofgravity of the machine to the treated surface.

The air extraction means are constructed in the form of a fan with anactuator attached within the body. The fan may comprise a filter for theair extracted from the box.

The cross-section of the elastic seal is of curvilinear shape with oneextremity attached to the walls of the box and the other extremitylocated outside the box. With this configuration, when the wheels bearagainst the flat surface being cleaned the elastic seal also bearspartly against that surface, with a length of the same parallel to thesurface.

The wheels of the device are constructed so that they can rotate throughat least 90° as a result of a special actuator. This actuator alsoensures simultaneous rotation through the same angle. Some of the wheelsmay include means to clean the working surface of the wheels. Sensorsmay also be provided to measure the angle of rotation so that theposition of the robot can be calculated.

The box includes an aperture which connects to the atmosphere and avalve is fitted in this opening to open the aperture when there is apressure difference between the atmosphere and the space within the boxwhich exceeds a predetermined value P1, and which closes this aperturewhen the difference is less than a predetermined value P2.

Within the box there are one or more additional wheels, and theseadditional wheels are located in such a way that when the main wheelsbear on the flat surface being treated and there is no difference inpressure between the atmosphere and the space within the box thedistance between the additional wheels and the treated surface has apredetermined value L_(i), where i is the number of the additionalwheel. The system for attaching the additional wheels is provided insuch a way that it allows these wheels to rotate freely.

The cleaning machine may comprise one or more tubes attached to the box.One end of these tubes opens to atmosphere and the other end is insertedinto the box and ends close to the surface treated.

The machine may be supplemented by a system which sprays a product whichimproves the technological process (for example a liquid) onto thesurface 1 being treated.

The machine may be supplemented by a system which causes a product whichimproves the technological process (for example a liquid) to come intocontact with brushes 5.

Process of Operation

The device is operated in the following way. In the initial positionbody 2 of the machine is fixed to cable 3 of crane 4 and at somedistance from surface 1 requiring treatment (for example supported onthe ground at a distance from the vertical surface). With the assistanceof crane 4 the machine is raised (if for example it was supported on theground) and approaches surface 1 requiring treatment. Once the elasticseal 10 surrounding the open part of box 9 comes into contact withsurface 1 requiring treatment or is close thereto the means to extractair 11 from box 9 are activated. When air is extracted from box 9 aforce is provided which attracts body 2 against surface 1 until thewheels 7 which have the possibility of rotating 8 (which are attached tobody 2 in such a way that their working components are in the sameplane) come into contact with surface 1. In this position brushes 5 comeinto contact with surface 1 requiring treatment, with a predetermineddeformation.

Brushes 5 which are capable of rotating are driven by actuators 6 andinteract with surface 1 requiring treatment, carrying out thetechnological process of cleaning and maintaining surface 1. While thetechnological cleaning and maintenance process is being carried out bybrushes 5, the means to extract air 11 from box 9 are in operation.After a certain help of a delay), body 2 of the machine moves (forpredetermined time (calculated for example with the example upwards ordownwards) with the help of cable 3 which connects it to crane 4. Duringthis movement means 11 for extracting air from box 9 are in operation.In this way wheels 7 which are capable of rotation 8 (which are attachedto body 2 in such a way that their working components are in the sameplane) bear against surface 1 requiring treatment and rotate upon thesame assisting its movement.

While the technological cleaning and maintenance process is beingperformed, the force of attraction produced by means 11 for extractingair from box 9 keep wheels 7 in contact with surface 1 requiringtreatment, preventing body 2 of the machine from separating from surface1 and ensuring a uniform contact distance between brushes 5 and surface1.

After the technological process of cleaning and maintaining surface 1requiring treatment has been performed, body 2 of the machine may bemoved horizontally (to the right or to the left) through vertical upwardor downward movements with the help of cable 3 linking body 2 to crane4. To allow this horizontal movement wheels 7 may include a specialactuator which allows them to rotate through at least 90° and can reducethe force of attraction provided by means 11 for extracting air from thebox.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (AS APPROPRIATE)

The invention is described in detail below through an example and makingreference to the appended figures,

FIG. 1. Machine for the cleaning of surfaces.

FIG. 2. Start of the operating process.

FIG. 3. The brushes.

FIG. 4. The elastic seal.

FIG. 5. Actuator for rotation of the wheels.

FIG. 6. Additional wheels.

1. The surface requiring treatment.

2. The body of the machine

3. The crane cable

4. The crane

5. The brushes

6. The actuator for the brushes

7. The wheels

8. The possibility for rotation of the wheels

-   -   9. The box with the open wall on the side of the surface treated

10. The elastic seal

11. Means for the extraction of air

12. Additional wheels

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The machine for the cleaning of vertical surfaces comprises the bodyattached to the cable of the crane, brushes attached to the body andwith an actuator which enables them to rotate, four wheels attached tothe body with the possibility of rotation. The attachment is such thatthe working components of the same are in the same plane and it isdistinguished in that it comprises a box with an open wall on the sideof the treated surface, with an elastic seal around the perimeter of theopen part of the box and means for extracting air from the box. Thesemeans are constructed in the form of a fan with an actuator fixed withinthe body and with a filter for the air extracted from the box.

The point of attachment of the cable to the body of the machine ischosen in such a way that when the wheels bear against the flat verticalsurface treated the distance between the point at which the cable isattached and the treated surface is the same as the distance between thecentre of gravity of the machine and the surface treated.

The elastic seal has a cross-section of curvilinear shape, with oneextremity fixed to the walls of the box and the other extremity locatedoutside the box. With this configuration, when the wheels bear againstthe flat surface requiring cleaning the elastic seal also partly bearsagainst that surface with a length of the same parallel to the surface.

The wheels of the device are constructed in such a way that they canrotate through 90° as a result of a special actuator. This actuator alsoensures simultaneous rotation through the same angle.

Within the box there are six additional wheels which rotate freely andwhich are positioned in such a way that when the main wheels bearagainst the flat surface being treated and there is no difference inpressure between the atmosphere and the space within the box thedistance between the additional wheels and the surface treated is 2 mm.

There are also three brushes within the box. The central brush is markedby the fact that it has a smaller diameter than the other two.

1. A surface cleaning machine attachable to a cable of a crane forcleaning a surface, comprising: a body attachable to the cable of thecrane; the body comprising a box including walls and defining an openside for facing the surface to be cleaned, an elastic seal around aperimeter of the open side of the box, and a device for extracting airfrom the box; brushes rotatably attached to the body; one or more brushactuators connected to the brushes; three or more main wheels rotatablyattached to the body for bearing against the surface to be cleaned; andone or more additional wheels rotatably attached to the body, theadditional wheels being positioned within the box of the body such that,when the main wheels bear against the surface to be cleaned and there isno pressure difference between an atmospheric pressure and a pressureinside the box of the body, the additional wheels are spaced from thesurface; wherein the brushes and the main wheels are configured todefine a flat plane for cleaning the surface during operation.
 2. Asurface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the elastic sealhas a cross-section of a curvilinear shape, with one extremity attachedto the walls of the box and the other extremity located outside the boxsuch that when the wheels bear against the surface to be cleaned, theelastic seal also partly bears against the surface.
 3. A surfacecleaning machine according to claim 2, wherein the wheels of the deviceare constructed to rotate through at least 90° and include a specialactuator.
 4. A surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, whereinthe wheels of the device are constructed to rotate through at least 90°and include a special actuator.
 5. A surface cleaning machine accordingto claim 4, wherein the wheels include a device which ensuressimultaneous rotation through the same angle.
 6. A surface cleaningmachine according to claim 1, wherein the body is attachable to thecable of the crane at a point of attachment such that when the wheelsbear against the surface to be cleaned, a first distance between thepoint of attachment of the cable and the surface is equal to a seconddistance between a center of gravity of the machine and the surface. 7.A surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the additionalwheels are configured to rotate freely.
 8. A surface cleaning machineaccording to claim 1, wherein not all the brushes have the samerigidity.
 9. A surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein atleast one part of the brushes is located within the box.
 10. A surfacecleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the additional wheels arespaced from the surface at a distance of 2 mm.
 11. A surface cleaningapparatus for cleaning a surface, the apparatus comprising: a surfacecleaning machine including: a body comprising a box including walls anddefining an open side for facing the surface to be cleaned, an elasticseal around a perimeter of the open side of the box, and a device forextracting air from the box; brushes rotatably attached to the body; oneor more brush actuators connected to the brushes; three or more mainwheels rotatably attached to the body for bearing against the surface tobe cleaned, the brushes and the main wheels are configured to define aflat plane for cleaning the surface during operation; one or moreadditional wheels rotatably attached to the body, the additional wheelsbeing positioned within the box of the body such that, when the mainwheels bear against the surface to be cleaned and there is no pressuredifference between an atmospheric pressure and a pressure inside the boxof the body, the additional wheels are spaced from the surface; a cable;lifting means for lifting and lowering the surface cleaning machine withthe cable; wherein the body of the surface cleaning machine is attachedto the cable at a point of attachment such that when the wheels bearagainst the surface to be cleaned, a first distance between the point ofattachment of the cable and the surface is equal to a second distancebetween a center of gravity of the machine and the surface to provide auniform contact between the brushes and the surface.
 12. A surfacecleaning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lifting means is acrane.